A man has appeared in court charged with sexual activity with his fiancee’s 15-year-old. has been granted bail.
The 35-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – is alleged to have made admissions during police interview, with the deputy district judge commenting “effectively what he have is an admitted paedophile”.
The defendant appeared charged with sexual communication with a child, sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 16 and causing or inciting a child aged 13 to 16 to engage in a sexual activity at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday.
Appearing via videolink from police custody, the accused confirmed that he understood the charges levelled against him and was connected to the same by a police constable.
The offences were alleged to have occurred between January 1, of last year, and March 11, of this year.
Defence solicitor Peter Murphy made no question to the connection and informed the court that bail was not opposed subject to a suitable address.
However, Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stated that he wished to know more of the background to the case and required the constable to address the court before making an adjudication on bail.
Prosecution outlined that the defendant’s fiancee had contacted police to report that he had began an inappropriate relationship with her 15-year-old daughter.
He was subsequently arrested, and when interviewed, the defendant is said to have made a full and frank explanation that he had become “attracted” to his partner’s daughter.
The prosecuting lawyer stated that the injured party had developed a “crush” on the defendant, which had shown a “certain level of grooming”.
The male is said to have admitted to the offences before the court during an interview with police.
A constable outlined that the pair had “started to become attracted to each other” in January of last year, with the first physical contact occurring last August.
He also submitted that the defendant had been in a relationship with the alleged victim’s mother for a number of years.
Deputy District Judge Holmes commented: “What I am struggling with is….these are usually alleged historical cases but what we are dealing with is entirely different.
“To his credit he has saved the court a lot of grief….but effectively what he have is an admitted paedophile; I have to look at public protocol.”
He added: “This is a case involving grooming, falling into a relationship and actual sexual activity with a [child]”.
Deputy District Judge Holmes granted the defendant his own bail of £100.
Conditions attached included; to reside at an address approved by police and Social Services, to have no contacts with witnesses in the case, to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 other than in normal day-to-day conduct, a restriction on social media, to make police aware of all internet enabled devices and no to delete his internet history.
